Safe skin care products for children

Shop.az 2018-02-07 17:54:27

The skin of a child is very different from that of an adult. First, the amount of sebaceous and sweat glands in children is greater than in adults. Therefore, improper care of a child's skin can lead, for example, to the appearance of chamfers in case of overheating or to the appearance of seborrheic crusts on the skin.

Secondly, the skin of a child is 3 times thinner than the skin of an adult and has a larger number of capillaries. Consequently, the ability to absorb harmful substances in children's skin is much higher.

In the third, up to six months in the skin of a child, melanin is almost not formed, so it is practically not protected from UV radiation.

Children's skin is very thin, permeable to toxic and dangerous substances, its protective function is lower, therefore it is necessary to correctly and very carefully approach the choice of children's cosmetics, carefully read their composition and pre-test the allergic effect in a small area of the skin first on yourself, and only then on the child.

Despite these differences, there is one characteristic, characteristic for both children's and adult skin. The fact is that today scientists have proved that the upper layer of the epidermis performs a kind of protective function of the body. On it there live useful acidic bacteria, which are capable of increasing the general immunity of the organism. When using ordinary soap, we create an alkaline environment that is fatal to these "good" bacteria. Therefore, it is important not only to monitor hygiene and wash thoroughly, but also to restore the natural bacterial (acidic) environment of our skin. In children, due to the fineness of their skin, useful bacteria are much less, so it is so important to choose the right products for washing baby skin.

Of course, washing hands with tar or toilet soap no one cancels. However, when there is a choice, what means to wash the child's body, it is necessary to pay special attention to its composition and foaming abilities.

Immediately it is worth mentioning that the days have passed when, apart from potassium permanganate and children's soap, nothing was on the shelves of the shops. It has long been shown that bathing a child in permanganate dries the skin and kills the natural microflora of the epidermis, the restoration of which will take about 5 hours.

Ordinary children's soap is generally not recommended for washing children up to a year. The basis of it is known to many chemical compound glycerin. And, although we have been assured for years that this is an effective moisturizer, modern studies show that glycerin forms a thin film, and vice versa, takes water from the skin, bringing it to the surface. Thus, it moistens only the horny layer of the epidermis, which does not need moisture. In addition, in the manufacture of conventional soaps, the process of saponification of fats with alkali is used, the residues of which are practically not removed from the agent. Alkaline environment is extremely undesirable for children's unprotected skin.

There are dangerous components of substances that children's cosmetics should not contain (this list should be printed and carried with them in a bag, so that it always was with you in case of purchase):

Lauryl or sodium laureth sulfate - Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS), Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (ALES) are the main substances responsible for good foam. Used in a very large concentration in the manufacture of shampoos, gels and liquid soaps. In another way such substances are called surfactants. They are able to completely destroy the protective layer of "good" acid bacteria and stay on the skin for a long time, thereby penetrating the body through the capillary system.

Essential oils(a strong allergen for children).

Mineral oils (can be designated as: paraffin, Paraffinum, Mineraloil, Petrolatum, petroleum jelly) - oil refining products. Very cheap components and therefore common in cosmetics. Do not allow to breathe the baby's skin, can cause irritation. Vaseline is recommended to be used only as moistening of the horny parts of the body.

Parabens - although these components are the last in the makeup, but their carcinogenic effect is already scientifically proven.

Diethanolamine (DEA) - foam stabilizer. Just this substance is responsible for how long the product will foam. This chemical is not a carcinogen, but during use it can form a dangerous compound, nitrosaethanolamine (NDEA), which has a very good penetrating effect. In recent studies, it has been found that nitrosodiethanolamine causes gastric cancer. Therefore, a bad foam is a sign of good quality cosmetics (this, incidentally, applies to adult cosmetics).

Triethanolamine (TEA) - a toxic substance that can accumulate in the skin.

Formaldehyde - this substance is very cleverly masked now under the guise of the following components: DMDM, hydantoindiazolidinylurea, Imidazalidolurea, Sodiumhydroxymethylglycinate, quaternium-15, N- (Hydroxymethyl) glycinemonosodiumsalt. Formaldehyde is a carcinogen that can cause asthma development in your child, as it irritates the mucous membranes of the throat and nose very much.

Propylene glycol (Propylene-Glycol, PEG, PEG) - is derived from petroleum products. As well as glycerin, binds moisture and expels it from the skin, can cause severe allergic reactions. PEG is used in children's cosmetics in very high concentrations, so be careful with it, it can cause disruption of the liver and kidneys.

Glycerine.

Diethylenedioxide - can be indicated in cosmetics as: 1,2-Dioxane (dioxane), ethoxylatedalcohols, polysorbates. Strong carcinogen, able to accumulate and lead to death in large concentrations.

Triclosan– antibacterial component, capable of destroying bacteria, including "good" sour. In the chemical reaction of triclosan with chlorine from tap water, it forms a toxic substance - chloroform.

Hydroxyanisole — BHA (butylatedhydroxyanisole), BHT (butylatedhydroxytoluene)– a very common component in cheap cosmetics, prohibitions in the EU countries. Is unsafe for the immune system and respiratory system.

Many of these substances are allowed in our country, so be careful when choosing the means.

What to use for bathing the children?

At the moment, the most safe means for bathing children is a special foam for bathing. Moreover, there are both budgetary Russian funds, and expensive foreign ones. Foam for bathing should have a light consistency, and give a small unstable foam. It can be applied to a sponge or added directly to water. It is better that the foam had a white color, and opaque. Do not confuse children's foam and adult foam for baths. It is extremely undesirable to wash children under 10 with such means. If, however, you doubt the choice of the right detergent, give preference to natural plant extracts - marigolds, turns, yarrow, chamomile. These herbs are quite cheap and are sold in pharmacies in the form of filter packs. On a children's bath it is enough to make one such package.

Choosing safe baby shampoo

One of the rules for choosing a baby shampoo is the absence of the above-mentioned "bad" components, as well as any hard surfactants (for example, laurets and lauryls).

The opinion that the less detergent composition, the better in today's conditions is wrong. The fact is that it is easier and cheaper for a manufacturer to pour one hard surfactant than to select and add certain concentrations of soft, more expensive surfactants. The combination of two or three surfactants in the composition of funds is considered the safest and speaks of a good quality of the product (concerns and adult cosmetics).

Children's shampoos should not contain bright dyes and have a pronounced smell.

The best are shampoos labeled "no tears". This inscription just means that the agent does not contain hard surfactants.

A child of three years of age can use shampoos and softened surfactants, for example, any glucosides, sodium cocoylisethinate polyglycosides, Sodiumcoco-sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine (betaine), Decylpolyglucose, Cocamidopropyl sulfobetaine, Sodium sulfosuccinate, Glythereth Cocoate.

Baby moisturizing milk for body

It is interesting that many parents do not use baby moisturizing milk after bathing a child, and believe that the less "chemistry" to apply, the better.

It is important to understand that no matter what soft bathing agent you choose, in combination with tap water it will still dry and reduce the natural protective function of the body. Therefore, children's skin is very important to moisturize and protect after bathing, to restore the natural protective acidic layer of "good" bacteria. And here comes to the rescue children's milk after bathing, which has a pH, which is necessary for the skin of the child. Starting from three years old, you can choose baby milk with your child, given his wishes for texture and smell. The choice of the same funds for children up to three years completely falls on their parents.

What are the requirements for children's moisturizing milk?

Must have liquid texture

Quickly absorbed

Correspond to the baby’s age (shown on the package)

Expiry date must be shown on the package

Odorless or lightly scented

Contain no prohibited substances

Be hypoallergenic.

Here is the composition of the most common in Russian stores baby milk.

As you can see, 60% of the components are toxic and dangerous substances. Therefore, when choosing children's cosmetics should always pay attention to the composition. Also, it is worth giving preference to undeclared Russian brands, their cost is lower than foreign cosmetics, and the quality is no worse

Diaper cream

Although diaper cream is not a mandatory hygiene product for a child, many mothers simply can not imagine changing diapers without it. In fact, this is correct. Let us recall what was said above. On the skin are not only "bad" bacteria, but also "good" sour. And now remember how often you wash your child, thereby washing away the natural bacterial layer. The diaper cream helps to restore this protective layer and prevents the occurrence of diaper rash.

Be sure to leave the baby without a diaper, powder and cream for airing for 10-15 minutes during diaper change.

Powders

As discussed at the beginning of the article, sweat glands in children are close enough to the surface of the skin and there are many of them, so diaper rash and sweating occur as a result of overheating so often under the diaper. The role of the powder is to dry the skin and cool it due to particles that can absorb excess sweat. The composition of the usual baby powder is very simple - talc, which is obtained by fine grinding of natural stone.

In recent years, a study of talc has shown that it is a toxic substance. When inhaled, talc may settle in the lungs and urinary system and is there almost the entire life of a person, which can lead to tumors of the reproductive system.

At the James Duke Research University, the United States has been shown that high fever in children, seizures, coughing and vomiting occur as a result of talc poisoning. Such poisoning can even lead to a coma.

The safest are considered organic powders based on herbal powders, rice starch or oats, which do not contain talc and parabens.

In addition, there are powders in the form of liquid talc or cream, they do not dust when used and can not be inhaled.

At home, instead of powder, you can use cornstarch or rice flour obtained by grinding rice in a coffee grinder. It is not recommended to use powder in the first three months of the child's life. It is important to remember that changing diapers, you can’t use both cream and powder at the same time. If the skin is strongly irritated, it is best to use a diaper cream.

It is very important to take good care of the child's skin from an early age. It is at this time that the foundation of her health and beauty for the rest of her life is laid.